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Chibhal

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Former Kingdom in northern South Asia

Chibhal State
Kingdom
1393–1846
Flag of Bhimber Flag
CapitalBhimber
DemonymChibhali's
Area 
• 5,735.45 km (2,214.47 sq mi)
Population 
•  133,000
Historical era19th century
• Foundation of the state 1393
• Annexed by the Dogra dynasty 1846
Succeeded by
Presidencies and provinces of British India
Today part ofAzad Kashmir Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Chibhal, meaning the land of the Chib Rajputs or Bhimber state was an Kingdom founded by a cadet branch of the Katoch Rajputs of Kangra in 1400. Its capital was the town of Bhimber. in modern day Azad Kashmir. It was founded in 1393 AD. By Raja Pratap chand prince of Kangra state.

History

Chibhal's first ruler was Raja Partab Chand Katoch, who was the youngest son of Raja Megh Chand Katoch of Kangra. Chibhal was also known to Timur's historians by the name Jibhal. The territory of Chibhal originally included upper the hill region bordering Hazara. Its rulers converted to Islam during the Timurid era.

The inhabitants of the state were known as Chibhalis. Chibs who ruled this princely state are the direct descendants of Raja Chib Chand Katoch from whom the term Chib, Chibhan and Chibhal are derived.

By the mid-18th century, Bhimber was the most powerful Muslim kingdom in the Pahari hilly region, it stretched from Nowshera to the outskirts of Rajouri, the historic capital of the Jammu and Kashmir region. Meanwhile, conspiracies were reaching new heights in the Punjab plains following the conquest of all other Sikh Misls by the chief who went by the name Ranjit Singh was consolidating his rule over the various Sikh misls and absorbing them into his Sikh Empire. This Sikh chief was able to conquer a large part of Bhimber but was ultimately unable to defeat Raja Sultan Khan, the ruler of Bhimber. These conquered areas were given to a distant relative of Raja Sultan Khan. Raja Sultan was able to retake most of the lost territories after defeating and executing the treacherous relative. This angered the Sikhs. The resulting Sikh invasion was led by Kharak Singh, son of Ranjit Singh. Kharak Singh was militarily humiliated by Raja Sultan Khan and was forced to retreat. Sultan Khan devised an ingenious strategy to lead his forces to the hilltop, an area where the opposing armies were unaccustomed to fighting in mountainous terrain. This led to a fierce battle which resulted in a great Muslim victory against the Sikhs in which Greater Bhimber defeated the armies of famous Sikh Maharaja of Punjab. Later on the state's territories were reduced to no more than twenty five kilometres due to constant invasions from the Sikh Empire. The state was then referred to as the state of Bhimber. At that time it included the towns of Bhimber, Samhani and Mangal Devi. The Chibhalis were known to fiercely resist the Sikhs. They were seen as a threat by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh i.e. Prince Kharak Singh, had called Raja Sultan Khan of Bhimber to Jammu to sign a peace treaty but there Raja Sultan Khan was treacherously put in jail, his kingdom was invaded and annexed into the Sikh Empire.

Forts

Jagir-Shahdara near Lahore

After the giving over of Jammu and Kashmir to Maharaja Gulab Singh, it became necessary to take measures for the protection and maintenance of the minor hill chiefs, who much against their will had been included in the “properties” forming part of the contract. The matter was arranged in 1847 by Sir Henry Lawrence, Agent and Resident at Lahore, on the one part, and by Diwan Jwala Sahai, the Maharaja's Minister, on the other. It was agreed that the chiefs who elected to settle in British territory should receive perpetual pensions, amounting in the aggregate to Rs. 42,800 annually. The Maharaja ceded to the British Government the ilaka of Sujanpur, part of Pathankot, and certain lands between the Beas and Chaki rivers north of Gurdaspur in satisfaction of the demands, which were to be met from the British treasuries. The Raja Faiz Talib Khan, styled as Bhimbarwala by Sir Henry Lawrence, was allowed hereunder a cash pension of Rs. 10,000 per annum, the same being declared perpetual in his family, to be enjoyed undivided by one individual at a time. This arrangement did not of course please Faiz Talib, who thus found himself invested with a small pension in lieu his patrimony. But who was obliged to accept what had been fixed for him by Sir Henry Lawrence, as there was no hope of getting better terms from the Maharaja. He took up his abode at Shahdara near Lahore; and he and his relatives ever since proved themselves thoroughly loyal to the new Power.

References

  1. People of India, Jammu & Kashmir, Anthropological Survey of India, 2003, by Kumar Suresh Singh, K. N. Pandita, Sukh Dev Singh Charak, Baqr Raza Rizvi, page 269
  2. Gulabnama of Diwan Kirpa Ram: A History of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, page 41
  3. Drew, Frederic (1877). The Northern Barrier of India: A Popular Account of the Jummoo and Kashmir Territories. E. Stanford. pp. 30–31.
  4. History of the Punjab Hill States by Hutchison and Vogel, reprint edition, 2 volumes in 1 CHAPTER XX IV.
  5. Kashmiris Fight for Freedom, Volume 1 Muhammad Yusuf Saraf page 149
  6. Kalanger to Kotli by K. D. Maini, SUNDAY, March 13, 2011 http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/magazine/11mar13/inner.htm
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